Birds, Strange and Otherwise

A souvenir photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . The souvenir photo category is a favorite of mine, and two of my previous theme park submissions happened to be souvenir photos (see Two Woman Posing for a Boardwalk Souvenir, Atlantic City, N.J. and High over Zurich, Sept. 22, 1910 ). This souvenir real photo postcard shows a man wearing a fez and riding an ostrich at the Cawston Ostrich Farm in South Pasadena, California, sometime in the early part of the twentieth century. The logo on the fez, consisting of a scimitar, crescent, and star, identifies the man as a member of the Shriners . The letters "RAJ" are barely visible above the logo and indicate that he belonged to the Rajah Temple , which was a local Shriners' chapter based in Reading, Pennsylvania, at the time this photo was taken. For another example of a souvenir photo from the Cawston Ostrich Farm, see ricksoloway's f_cawstonostrichfarm photo on Flickr.

A photo of birds (with or without people) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "Going on a Journey. 14." Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "This card is a genuine photograph, hand painted. Made in the United States." I'm not sure what sort of journey this little girl and her pet goose might be going on. Perhaps the girl is thinking of flying away like Mother Goose ("Old Mother Goose, / When she wanted to wander, / Would ride through the air / On a very fine gander"). Or maybe she just wants to go for a ride, like this fellow:

A couple of "family pets" for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . Handwritten on the back of this real photo postcard: "Ray Mellott and his two pet geese." Handwritten notation added later by a postcard dealer: "Mercersburg, Pa." Mouse over the image above or select the thumbnail image below to see a close-up of the boy and his pet geese .

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard:

A photo with X marks the spot (an X to indicate something or someone on the photo) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten on the back of this photo: "X - Another dandy. His mother laid 303 eggs in one yr."

See also the full version of this real photo postcard. "With Thanksgiving seasons greetings." Postmarked: Big Rapids, Mich., Nov. 23 and 24, 1908. Addressed to: Ethel Finnan, 606 S. Mich. Ave., Big Rapids, Mich. Message on back: "Dear Ethel, Your card and letter both received and glad to hear you are prospering. We are very busy these days. All my turkeys to market besides the geese and chickens. I've made two pretty dresses the last two weeks. Tate Pearson came up and stayed while we both made her dress. She and Hoddie called this p.m. Lydia. These cards are our own make. Nov. 22/08."

Mouse over the top of this real photo postcard to see a close-up of the turkey . "With Thanksgiving seasons greetings." Postmarked: Big Rapids, Mich., Nov. 23 and 24, 1908. Addressed to: Ethel Finnan, 606 S. Mich. Ave., Big Rapids, Mich. Message on back: "Dear Ethel, Your card and letter both received and glad to hear you are prospering. We are very busy these days. All my turkeys to market besides the geese and chickens. I've made two pretty dresses the last two weeks. Tate Pearson came up and stayed while we both made her dress. She and Hoddie called this p.m. Lydia. These cards are our own make. Nov. 22/08."

A Thanksgiving or family gatherings at the dinner table photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park . I'm not sure whether this found photo shows a Thanksgiving meal, but I like how the fellow on the right is unfurling his napkin as he sizes up the turkey.

"J. Shisler, agt., dealer in selected family groceries, pure coffees, spices, and good teas, Third St. (opposite Opera House), Harrisburg." This is one of a six-part "Comic Visiting" card series printed by E. Currier & Co., Boston (probably related to the Currier of Currier & Ives but I'm not sure how). Other cards show a woman trying to attract a cat with a saucer of milk , a man peering through his eyeglasses at an owl, and a baby dangling a cup or something else to get a dog's attention.

"William Bohlmann, dealer in cigars and tobacco, No. 3 Main Street, Yonkers, N.Y."

"The sea may rise and mountains fall, but my love for thee will live through it all. Sweet dreams and glad awakernings be thine."

Uncut block of six rewards of merit. See also Bird-Themed Sunday School Cards (below).

"John B. Hefflefinger, White House, Pa. My love to you."

"Clara H. Watkins, Landlady, Hotel, Long Green, Md."

"The kind we raise on our farm. Come over to dinner soon."

The Ghost of Thanksgiving Past floats out of the kettle to haunt the table, only to find that everyone has fled in terror. A frightful holiday scene for the Weird Vintage Postcards group.